Fair Play Associate Artistic Director
An opportunity for a mid-career director or theatre maker who is working class or from a low socio-economic background, with a desire to learn about leadership and to make work on the mid-scale, to work in residence at a regional building-based theatre company for 18-months
Anthony Lau, RTYDS Associate Artistic Director at Sheffield Theatres (2020-2022), directing ROCK at Sheffield Theatres. Photo by Sam Taylor.
This strand of RTYDS’s work reflects our strong commitment to the development of directors and theatre makers as cultural leaders. There continues to be a significant lack of diversity in those who lead organisations and there is a pressing need to provide progression routes for talented people from working class and low socio-economic backgrounds that continue to be under-represented in the arts.
With the Fair Play Associate Artistic Director Residency, RTYDS partners with regional building-based theatre companies who each host a mid-career working class or low socio-economic background director or theatre maker for 18 months. The Fair Play Associate Artistic Director will develop their craft as a director while learning about the role of an artistic or creative director in cultural leadership.
“The benefits have been substantial and have been felt across the organisation.
The Senior Management Team has been inspired by Anthony’s presence, and he has contributed to and often provoked conversations on a wide range of key topics; programming, strategy, talent development, diversity and inclusion, anti-racism, the freelancer debate, environmental concerns, staff restructuring and COVID planning. His perspective on these and many other issues has been invaluable in shaping policy and action.
He has demonstrated the importance of having another artistic voice beyond that of the Artistic Director in the SMT, and the value to the organisation of having someone who can deputise for the AD.”
Rob Hastie, previously Artistic Director, Sheffield Theatres
(Anthony Lau, Associate Artistic Director Residency 2020-22)
Our Fair Play Associate Artistic Directors for 2026-27 are:
Jamie Sophia Fletcher at Leeds Playhouse
Rikki Henry at Bristol Old Vic
Yusra Warsama at Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse
Find out more about our three Fair Play Associate Artistic Directors here.
If you have any questions or queries regarding the RTYDS Associate Artistic Director Residency, please contact Programme Producer Manli Siu on rtyds@rtyds.co.uk or 0161 883 0296.
“There is no doubt in my mind that without this extraordinary chance I would not have had the experience or confidence to be the director I am or to have set up the National Theatre of Scotland.”
Vicky Featherstone
Previously Artistic Director, Royal Court Theatre
(RTYDS 18-Month Residency alumni)